The Big White Farmhouse

intentional living, little by little

No.308: A List of October’s Frugal Accomplishments

Month #4!  This month, I focused on looking critically at our possessions, dealing with the things we no longer need (creating the 1,000 Item Declutter Challenge!) and trying to take good care of everything else.  I’m so happy to be tackling this during our children’s fall birthdays and before the Christmas season.

OCTOBER’S FRUGAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS
My Goal: Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.  
And if you have to spend money, do it with intention.

+ I gave my son a haircut.

+ I borrowed and read a book from the library.

+ I reused an empty jam jar as a water pot when the kids painted with watercolors.

+ I bought the huge bag of dog food, even though the price makes me cringe.  When I did the calculations, I actually save over a dollar per pound, making it the better deal.

+ With the kids in more activities this fall, we tried to save gas and do errands when we already have to be in town: meeting people to pass off things from Trash Nothing or Facebook Marketplace, popping in the grocery store for an ingredient, etc.

+ We moved our oldest into the basement bedroom and I was able to rearrange our furniture around to give him everything he needed, including a nightstand, dresser and even an old loveseat.  The only thing I purchased was a new lamp.  He’s got quite the man cave now!

+ I unclogged our troublesome master bathroom shower drain with a homemade solution I found on Pinterest.  Definitely my favorite frugal accomplishment this month!  Here’s the “recipe”:

DIY Drain Unclogger
8 cups boiling water
1/2 cup baking soda
1 cup vinegar
1 cup very hot water
8 cups boiling water
 Boil 9 cups of water.  Reserve 1 cup and dump the rest down the drain.
Sprinkle the baking soda down the drain and let it sit for a few minutes.
Mix the 1 cup of reserved water with 1 cup vinegar and pour slowly down the drain.
Let sit for 10 minutes while you boil 8 more cups of water.
Pour boiling water down the drain.

+ I made more homemade chicken broth and finally got to use my new Souper Cubes (affiliate link).

+ Ebay had a 3-day promotion that waived the listing fees for 200 items.  I listed 23 items, saving me over $8.

+ When our oven started taking forever to preheat and then not cooking evenly, we paid the $125 fee to have our home warranty send someone to look at it.  There was a whole host of issues including a broken bottom coil and glitchy front panel, which would cost $1,200+ for parts and labor.  I hate paying that home warranty bill each month when things are good, but sing its praises when appliances start breaking!

+ I learned a laundry trick to get grease stains out of clothes by using plain white chalk.

+ I turned off the A/C on October 4th and now we play my favorite game of the year: how long can we go before having to turn on the heat?

Your turn!  What did you do to save a little money this month?

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Previous Frugal Accomplishments: 
JULY  //  AUGUST  //  SEPTEMBER

No.305: What I Decluttered // October 2019

I officially started the 1,000 Item Declutter Challenge on September 15 and just finished the first full month yesterday!  Here were my ground rules:

  1. Only spend 10 minutes at one time and only in one specific area.  
  2. Monday through Wednesday, seek out items that we no longer need and make a pile.  Then Thursday through Saturday, make a plan for how to deal with them.  (This worked so well and avoided that dreaded box of “what should I do with these?” items.)
  3. Possible places to find new homes for items: Ebay/Poshmark, Facebook Marketplace, Trash Nothing website or the local Buy Nothing Facebook group and as a last resort, Goodwill

I feel a responsibility for the things I have and want to be intentional with how I dispose of them.  Questions I asked myself: If it’s here, what purpose does it serve?  Can I use it up?  Can I enjoy it vs. keeping it tucked away in drawers and boxes?  And if not, can I let it go to someone who may need it more?

So…Month #1!  I haven’t really looked critically at our belongings since we moved in two years ago and…it’s time.  The kids are getting older, our tastes are changing, and it just feels like a big time of transition.  Two big things I learned this month:

  1. I was surprised to feel very emotional as I decided to let things go.  This shocked me because I don’t consider myself to be an emotional person!  However, through the years, I’ve held on to many things that have sentimental value, but actually get rarely used.  So many memories from the early years of my marriage!  It’s time to let someone else enjoy them, but whew!  Some were hard to part with.    
  2. I have all that I need – and a whole lot more.  Lately, I’ve been whining to myself about all the things I don’t have.  Nothing like a good decluttering to see how much I’ve already got!  

I’m really proud of the work I put in this month.  Looking forward to continuing the process in month #2.

WHAT I DECLUTTERED THIS MONTH

  • 44 books.  I sold a set of 20 little religion books on ebay for (after fees) $31, as well as five books the boys read and no longer wanted.  I also donated 11 saint books to our church’s CCD program.  The rest went to Goodwill.
  • 18 pieces of Sophia’s outgrown clothing from last year.  My girl is growing like a weed and has grown out of all of her size 6 fall clothes already.  I made a post on Trash Nothing and received an answer within 10 minutes!  We have been the recipients of so many hand-me-downs over the years and I always love to give another mama that gift as well.  
  • A Christmas dress and shrug.  Sold on ebay for $17.
  • One winter coat. 
  • Two Willow Tree figurines.  This was a hard one because they were gifts, back when we were just beginning parenthood.  They’ve been sitting in a closet collecting dust, so I decided to put them on ebay for someone else to enjoy.  Sold almost overnight for (after fees) almost $13!
  • One board game.
  • A big diaper box full of P’s 2T clothing.  All in all, I think there were 32 pieces with everything from shirts to pajamas to last year’s winter jacket.  I found a mama on Trash Nothing and that makes it so much easier to part with them.
  • 8 old magazines. Into the recycling bin.
  • One arrow quiver for archery.
  • Ten various pieces of clothing. Off to Goodwill.  These were clothes in good condition, but didn’t have much resale value and weren’t substantial enough to warrant creating a post on Trash Nothing.
  • One pair of snow boots.
  • Four brand new pieces of Heather Ross fabric and a new bobbin of thread.  Waaay back in the day, I used to really be into quilting, a skill my grandmother taught me.  I purchased many beautiful fabrics, but life and lots of babies happened and most of that fabric has been sitting untouched in a box for years.  Finally ready to let some of them go.  I listed this group on ebay and they sold for $18.
Items decluttered: 125
Money made: $124.72

 P.S. To “count,” the item had to physically leave my house.  So while I have listed a handful of things online, those aren’t counted until they have sold.

No.297: A List of September’s Frugal Accomplishments

Month #3!  This month, I tried to focus my frugality lens in terms of consuming: not in the sense of buying more, but instead using up the things I have already purchased and own.  What good are things, even if they are neatly organized in drawers and shelves, if you never use them?  This new way of thinking has been eye-opening for sure.   

P.S. I have another new blog to share with you this month: The Frugal Girl.  Another great resource to inspire you on your frugal journey!

SEPTEMBER’S FRUGAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS
My Goal: Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.  
And if you have to spend money, do it with intention.

+ I took apart and then reassembled my vacuum cleaner after one of the kids sucked up a colored pencil.  A most ridiculous accomplishment, but you would not believe how many vacuums we’ve been through in almost 13 years of parenting!

+ I took a yard of orange fabric (that I’ve had stored away) and ripped it into strips to use as ribbon for my Poshmark/Ebay packages.  I love how cute it looks and it was free!

+ Our living room chair is almost nine years old and was in sad shape.  The removable back cushion was saggy and the arms were stained.  I fixed the back cushion by wrapping a blanket (this cheap one from Walmart – we used them as furniture blankets when we moved here to the farmhouse and they’ve proved to be quite handy) around the insert and then cramming plastic grocery store bags in the sides to fill it out a little.  Add a $25 slipcover and I have a brand new chair!  So excited about this little project.

+ I got a sourdough starter up and running again.  Hoping to get into the habit of making fresh bread at least three times a week.  So far I’ve made an everyday loaf, a cinnamon raisin swirl, and waffles.

+ I made a big batch of ditalini pasta to accompany our dinner one night.  I froze the leftovers and will use them in a soup once the weather gets cooler.

+ I used up all the birthday wrapping paper I had left from last year before buying new rolls.  I also found a few gift bags I had stored away, which I can reuse for all the kids.

+ I made my own broth after roasting a whole chicken.  I’ve had a full “broth bag” of veggie scraps in the freezer for over a month!  It will never fail to amaze me how you can make something so delicious from things you’d normally just trash.

+ You know me and rabbit holes…one night, I got sucked into the world of bullet journals on Pinterest.  So many beautiful books and inspiring ideas!  I immediately wanted a brand new Leuchtturm notebook, highlighters and pens. ($$$)  Instead, I took one of the extra composition books I bought for the kids (only 50 cents!), covered it in scrapbook paper I already owned and I love it all the same.

+ I moved the potatoes from the pantry to the fridge after reading this post.  It seems like commonsense (potatoes were traditionally kept in root cellars; root cellars = cool temperatures) but I never took the time to really think about it!  Hoping for much less waste with this small change.

+ I bought a “soap saver” to use up all those little bits of leftover soap.  Love that I was able to support a maker on etsy too.

+ I sold four bar stools (that have been collecting dust in our basement for two years) on Facebook Marketplace.   I’m happy to get them into a new home and really happy to get $100 for them!  That money allowed us to cash flow a little day trip to go apple picking and have lunch near our “old-old house”, which is about an hour away.

+ I made soap from supplies I’ve had for years!  I made this recipe for goat’s milk grapefruit mint soap once before and still had half of a container full of the melt and pour product.  I made another batch (5 bars) and loved that I could actually use up something that was in my craft “stash” as well as make something useful.

+ I redeemed Swagbucks points for a $10 Amazon gift card.

+ I borrowed and read three books from the library.

+ I started buying supplies for our emergency closet: water, snacks and canned goods.  Winter (and possible power outages) will be here before we know it!

+ I went to a few thrift stores with my mom and found 12 pieces of clothing for four members of the family, two books, a big mixing bowl and three of the same Crate & Barrel glasses I own for under $40.

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Previous Frugal Accomplishments: 
JULY  //  AUGUST

No.285: A List of August’s Frugal Accomplishments

Month #2!  I’m really enjoying this challenge of noticing and recording.  I’m trying to change my knee-jerk reaction of buying instead of making do/mending/fixing and this monthly post is helping.  I’m starting to look around my home in gratitude, taking care of the things we’ve purchased, and being thankful that we have all that we need.

P.S. I have a new blog to share with you this month: The Non Consumer Advocate.  Maybe this is just me, but I prefer blogs that don’t tell me what to do, but instead show me what they’re doing.  I’m always inspired after reading her weekly “Five Frugal Things” and think you will be too.

AUGUST’S FRUGAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS
My Goal: Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.  
And if you have to spend money, do it with intention.

+ I became very vigilant about turning off all the lights in unoccupied rooms (I’m turning into you, Dad!).  I gave a reminder talk to some of the kids who were especially guilty of this.

+ I have had a small hole in one of the throw pillows on my bed for years.  I’ve just propped it up on the opposite side all this time, but finally decided to sew it up!  It took all of five minutes and now I feel ridiculous that I didn’t do that sooner.

+ After reading about fast fashion and different types of fabric this summer, I gave myself two goals when purchasing clothes going forward: seek ethical companies (made in the USA even better!) and look for breathable fabrics like cotton, linen and silk.  These goals are tricky because the price tags tend to be $$$.  BUT!  While I was shopping on ThredUp for fall clothes for Sophie, I found a linen-blend black v-neck tee from Dolan (I think that’s an Anthropologie brand?), made in the USA, and only $3!

+ I collected all of the free samples we’ve been receiving in our “goodie bags” from the dentist and put them in a milkglass bowl I already own.  Now they’re all easy to find and we’ll be good on floss and toothpaste for awhile.

+ I didn’t buy a single book for myself.  Book Outlet even had a sale and I kept my debit card in my wallet, hah!  Still working through the stacks on my nightstand.

+ The white quilt on my bed was looking really dingy from the dirty feet of my children.  (Full disclosure, I immediately started daydreaming about buying new bedding from Pottery Barn.)  Instead, I bought a bottle of OxyClean, washed my quilt and it looks brand new again.

+ I put out a request on Trash Nothing for a deep freezer.  No luck yet.

+ Ebay had a 4-day promotion that waived the listing fees for 200 items.  I listed 40 items, saving me $14.

+ Speaking of Ebay, I sold a handful of homeschooling books we no longer use and made a nice little profit…which went right into buying more supplies for the current school year.  An educational circle of life.


+ I borrowed and read two books from the library.

+ One of my favorite coffee mugs has a crack inside, so I re-purposed it into a pen holder.

+ I made two banana breads with bananas that were starting to turn brown.

+ I went through my entire fall/winter wardrobe and looked at every.single.piece.  Perks to being the most boring dresser ever: almost all of my clothes are navy blue, olive green, gray, white or black!  I threw everything on my bed and inventoried what I had and what I needed.  So for example, I noticed that I could use a new plain black long sleeve tee and a chunky black cardigan, but I’m all set on gray sweaters and anything striped.  This process gave me a very specific shopping list, which will ultimately save me money in the long run.

+ I invested in a dryer lint trap brush (I bought mine locally, but it’s similar to this).  So many pros to this little $5 gadget: it will help prevent fires, less lint in the trap will increase dryer performance (faster loads = money saved) and it even helps with pet hair.  A worthwhile purchase.

+ I made a double batch of buttermilk waffles during our “Big Sunday Breakfast” and froze the leftovers for easy breakfasts during the week.

+ I gave some of Lucy’s puppy supplies to a lady through Trash Nothing.  I’m happy that another dog will have them since they were only used for such a short amount of time.

+ Lucy (almost 7 months old) suddenly become very picky about her breakfast/dinner, turned her nose to it and refused to eat.  After ruling out any illness, I did some research and decided to try the least expensive option: adding a little rice and/or chicken broth.  And it worked!  She’s gobbled up her meals without complaint ever since.  Silly dog.

+ I made a batch of homemade taco seasoning using this recipe.

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Previous Frugal Accomplishments // JULY

No.277: A List of July’s Frugal Accomplishments

Do you read The Prudent Homemaker?  She has a weekly series called “Last Week’s Frugal Accomplishments” and it is awesome and inspiring.  The comments are great too!  I’ve wanted to make an effort to notice and record my own frugal accomplishments and July seemed like the right month to start.

My Goal: Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.  
And I would add, if you have to spend money, do it with intention.

+ We added a ton of brown matter to the compost pile and that seems to have helped with the unwanted animals problem.
+ I passed on a big box of P’s outgrown clothing to another mama on Trash Nothing.
+ We recreated a few “fancy” Home Chef meals, using the recipes cards we received back when we got the boxes.
+ I opened all of the windows first thing in the morning to let the cool air in and went as long as we could stand before turning on the A/C.
+ We started brainstorming and researching ways to reduce our cell phone and Internet bills.
+ I watched a lot of Poshmark/re-selling videos on YouTube.  They’re like business development courses for free!  So helpful.
+ I mended three small holes in the knitting on Sophie’s Cuddle + Kind bunny.
+ I also mended a pair of my black pants where the stitching was starting to come undone.  A two minute fix and they’re good as new.
+ I made a homemade weed killer using this recipe.
+ I cut the little boys’ hair at home.
+ I easily fixed the wheel on my Ikea cart after thinking it was broken for a year.  Face palm.  Now it rolls like a dream!
+ I redecorated our side entryway by using things we already own.  I splurged on a new houseplant for $10.
+ We bought a new dishwasher during the Fourth of July sale, saving us $150.
+ I stuck to my list on Amazon Prime Day and then resisted temptation by staying off of social media and not reading blog posts for the rest of the day.  No impulse shopping for the blissfully unaware, although I was tempted!

No.272: Read With Me // Overdressed (Part 4)

This post contains affiliate links.

Quick recap: I assigned myself a summer reading book, Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost to Cheap Fashion, to help me learn more about ethical fashion.  I’m jotting down some notes and thoughts as I read through it this month and sharing them here.  Maybe it will inspire you in a new way too!

I’ve divided the book into four sections.  (Find my notes on Part One, Part Two and Part Three.)  Part Four contains Chapters 7, 8 and 9.

Chapter 7: China and the End of Cheap Fashion

China’s garment industry operates on an intimidating scale.  It’s several times bigger than any garment industry that’s happened anywhere in the world at any point in history.  They have more than 40,000 clothing manufacturers and 15 million garment industry jobs.  Compare that to the 1.45 million garment and textile industry jobs the United States had at peak employment some 40 years ago. (p.169)

 Notes and takeaways from this chapter:

  • Food for thought: “China’s growing consumer class and incredible industrial output pose enormous sustainability issues for the global economy and the world’s resources.  Giardina states, ‘If every man, woman, and child in China bought two pair of wool socks, there would be no more wool left in the world.  Think about that.  So, yes, there will be problems with scarcity of resources.  And what’s going to happen is prices will go up.’ ” (p.172)
  • Another unfortunate fact: “In 2010 America imported $364 billion worth of products from China, and according to the Economic Policy Institute, the trade deficit with China has cost the United States nearly 2.8 million jobs, or 2 percent of our domestic employment.” (p.175)
  • China is prospering and raising its prices to the point where retailers are looking for even cheaper labor in countries like Cambodia, Vietnam, India, and Bangladesh.  Unfortunately, these countries do not have the infrastructure, technology or labor supply and therefore often produce a sub-par product.  I looked in my own closet and the cheapest, most “fast fashion” pieces were all made in either Vietnam or Bangladesh.   

    Chapter 8: Make, Alter, and Mend

    Human beings have been sewing for thousands of years; some peg it to the last Ice Age.  It’s store-bought clothing, in its inflexible, prefab form, that is the recent invention.  When we entirely gave up homemade and custom clothing, we lost a lot of variation, quality, and detail in our wardrobes, and the right fit along with it. (p.191-192)

     Notes and takeaways from this chapter:
    • This was such an inspiring chapter!  Loved this quote from Sarah Kate Beaumont: “There’s a slow food movement; I will call the project to make the majority of clothing I wear slow clothes.  Mass-produced clothing, like fast food, fills a hunger and need, yet is non-durable and wasteful.  Home sewn garments, similar to home cooked foods, are made with care and sustenance.  In a sense clothing can be nourishing.” (p.190)
    • A cool year-long experiment: The Uniform Project
    • “My mother learned how to sew from her mother and made an outfit from scratch in home economics class in high school.  My grandmother on my father’s side didn’t make entire garments, but she was very skilled at taking her family’s clothes in and letting them out.  I never learned how to sew.  In a single generation the skill was lost.” (p.193)
    • Inspiring: Elise’s “Me Made May”
    • A book to request from the library: Mending Matters: Stitch, Patch, and Repair Your Favorite Denim & More

    Chapter 9: The Future of Fashion

    Fabric is the foundation of a garment and perhaps its most important component.  A good fabric should feel good next to your skin, wear and wash well over time, and have a certain texture and beauty that becomes recognizable once you start to look for it. (p.212)

    Notes and takeaways from this chapter:

    • This last paragraph had good advice: “I think we’re all headed in the right direction if we keep these simple principles in mind: Buy clothes you truly love.  Don’t buy too much.  And get the most out of what you wear.  In other words, it’s become clearer to me that where you shop is less important than how you shop.” (p.234)

    Final Thoughts

    I really liked this book!  While it did seem to ramble a little, there were countless quotes that I’m sure I’ll be thinking about in the months ahead.  Elizabeth Cline also has a new book coming out in August called The Conscious Closet: The Revolutionary Guide to Looking Good While Doing Good.  Sounds like the perfect follow-up!  I’ll keep you posted.  Thanks for reading along with me!

    No.266: Read With Me // Overdressed (Part 3)

    This post contains affiliate links.

    Quick recap: I assigned myself a summer reading book, Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion, to help me help me learn more about ethical fashion.  I’m jotting down some notes and thoughts as I read through it this month and sharing them here.  Maybe it will inspire you in a new way too!

    I’ve divided the book into four sections.  (Find my notes on Part One here and Part Two here.)  Part Three contains Chapters 5 and 6.

    Chapter 5: The Afterlife of Cheap Clothes

    There is an enormous disconnect between increasing clothing consumption and the resultant waste, partially because unworn clothes aren’t immediately thrown out like other disposable products. (p.121)

     Notes and takeaways from this chapter:

    • I was interested in this chapter in light of my Poshmark hobby.  Did you know that of all the clothing that gets donated to charity, less than 20% actually gets sold in the thrift stores?  About 50% goes straight to postconsumer waste facilities.
    • Stats for postconsumer waste facilities:
      • Less than 50% is high enough quality to continue as clothing
      • 20% is sold to fiber buyers who use it in products like insulation or carpet padding
      • 30% is sold to industrial wiping-rag companies
      • 5% is thrown away
    • “Vintage’s appeal is about nostalgia and exclusivity, but there’s also a certain ‘they don’t make ’em like they used to’ allure to owning something from our garment industry’s heyday.” (p.134)  Reading about vintage clothing made me immediately think of Lisa and Betty’s Heart Co.  I need to make an order soon!  

    Chapter 6: Sewing is a Good Job, a Great Job

    Clothing companies have enjoyed decades of cheap foreign labor and the resulting profits, but what exactly are the tangible benefits to us, the American consumer?  We own more clothes than we can wear, the quality and craftsmanship of our wardrobes are at an all-time low, and the U.S. manufacturing base can’t compete on wages with the developing world, costing countless domestic jobs.  One of the tools we have to change these dynamics is not just to demand that clothing companies stop using sweatshops, but to set the bar much higher and demand they pay those who make our clothes a living wage.  Raising wages abroad would be good for the U.S. economy, as it would give our own industries a much-needed change to compete.  It wouldn’t be easy or simple, but it’s achievable and the benefits would be far-reaching. (p.160)

    Notes and takeaways from this chapter:
    • It’s easy to forget that sewing clothing requires some skill: “At Alta Gracia [a garment factory in the Dominican Republic], a simple men’s T-shirt is created using a 14-person process and a number of different types of machines.” (p.139)
    • to look for: the Fair Trade Certified label 

    No.259: Read With Me // Overdressed (Part 2)

    This post contains affiliate links.

    Quick recap: I assigned myself a summer reading book, Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion, to help me learn more about ethical fashion.  I’m jotting down some notes and thoughts as I read through it this month and sharing them here.  Maybe it will inspire you in a new way too!

    I’ve divided the book into four sections.  (Find my notes on Part One here.)  Part Two contains Chapters 3 and 4.

    Chapter 3: High and Low Fashion Make Friends

    Every season another mass-fashion retailer announces a buzzy new partnership with a famed designer…growing sales by drawing hysterical early morning queues and stampedes that clean out stores in the blink of an eye. (p.70)

    Consumers once bought the best clothing they could for their money, which started with an intimate knowledge of fiber content.  When clothes were more expensive and kept for years and worn year-round, we were naturally more invested in what they were made of. (p.83) 

       Notes and takeaways from this chapter:

    • This chapter explored the vast difference between high-end fashion and their cheaper counterparts.  The section on high-end designers and the way retailers like Target, H&M, and Gap have partnered with them to create fast fashion copycats was eye-opening.  This quote was thought-provoking: “Where girls once would have paid at least some attention to the craftsmanship of the product, or even might have sat behind a sewing machine and created their own Missoni-inspired or Karl Lagerfeld look-alike, they can now line up passively to buy disposable versions of it.” (p.71)
    • There are two types of man-made fibers, plastics and cellulosic:
      • Cellulosic are fibers like viscose, rayon, Modal, and Tencel and are produced from naturally sourced by-products like cotton scraps and sawdust
      • Plastics are fibers like polyester, acrylic and nylon
    • As I read through this book, I’m reminded so much of my grandmother.  She was a talented seamstress and would intensely inspect my clothing – what the fabric was, how the seams were sewn, how the lining in a skirt was connected.  I’m so sad that I never sat down with her and had her explain the construction of a well-made piece of clothing.

      Chapter 4: Fast Fashion

      Fast fashion is a radical method of retailing that has broken away from seasonal selling and puts out new inventory constantly throughout the year.  Fast-fashion merchandise is typically priced much lower than its competitors’…On it’s face, it makes little sense that selling so much attractive fashion for so little could be profitable.  But in fact, it seems to be the only surefire way to make it in today’s retail scene: Fast-fashion retailers have more than twice the average profit margin of their more traditional competitors. (p.96)

      Notes and takeaways from this chapter:
      • “Forever 21 is notorious for ripping off fashion designers.  To date, the company has been sued more than 50 times for copyright violations.  Yet it has never been found liable for copyright infringement.” (p.105)  This is so sad.  It reminds me of a few intellectual property violations I read about a few years ago: 
      • A thought-provoking quote: “But what happens when the copycats in question are huge, billion-dollar companies that are gaining market share by the day?  Forever 21 and Zara aren’t small Seventh Street manufacturers aping Parisian couturiers.  And they aren’t just mimicking high-end designers few can afford.  They’re corporations that are able to undercut virtually all of their competitors, whether it’s a high-end luxury label, an independent designer, or anything in between.” (p.110-111)
      P.S. Don’t forget to enter the blogiversary giveaway for a chance to win some of my favorite things!  Open until Sunday, June 16.

      No.252: Read With Me // Overdressed (Part 1)

      This post contains affiliate links.

      As you may know, I’ve been selling secondhand clothing on Poshmark for almost a year now.  Looking critically at clothing has opened a whole new world to me!  I’m asking questions like, What kind of fabric is this?  How is this garment constructed?  How in the world can they sell a brand new knit sweater so cheaply?!  In the past year, my fashion self-education has taught me a lot, but I know there is still so much to learn.

      So to help me out, I assigned myself a bit of summer reading: Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion.  Like last year, I thought it would be fun to jot down some notes and thoughts as I read through it this month and share them here.  Maybe it will inspire you to look at your closet in a new way too!

      The book is divided into nine chapters.  Today’s Part One will look at the Introduction and Chapters 1 and 2.

      Introduction

      The introduction is only ten pages long, but I underlined something on almost every page!  Here are two quotes that had me nodding my head in agreement already:

      That clothes can be had for so little money is historically unprecedented.  Clothes have almost always been expensive, hard to come by, and highly valued; they have been used as alternate currency in many societies.  Well into the twentieth century, clothes were pricey and precious enough that they were mended and cared for and reimagined countless times, and most people had a few outfits that they wore until they wore out.  How things have changed.  We’ve gone from making good use of the clothes we own to buying things we’ll never or barely wear.  We are caught in a cycle of consumption and waste that is unsettling at best and unsatisfying at its core. (p.4)

      Clothes could have more meaning and longevity if we think less about owning the latest or cheapest thing and develop more of a relationship with the things we wear.  Building a wardrobe over time, saving up and investing in well-made pieces, obsessing over the perfect hem, luxuriating in fabrics, and patching and altering our clothes are old-fashioned habits.  But they’re also deeply satisfying antidotes to the empty uniformity of cheapness.  If more of us picked up the lost art of sewing or reconnected with the seamstresses and tailors in our communities, we could all be our own fashion designers and constantly reinvent, personalize, and perfect the things we own. (p.9) 

      Chapter 1: “I Have Enough Clothing to Open a Store”

      Cheap fashion and off-price chains have come to occupy a significant part of the retail market.  Their dominance, paired with the majority of department store clothing now being sold on sale, has fully reset our expectations about how much clothes should cost and what they are worth.  This constant chipping away of the price of apparel has shifted the concept of what is “affordable,” with once-reasonable prices now seeming expensive to us. (p.31) 

      Target and Old Navy initially needed marketing to redefine cheap fashion as chic, but today cheap fashion needs no endorsement.  Whether we’re buying from off-price stores, department store sales, or from pure discounters, landing clothing deals in the realm of $30, or often much less, is ingrained in our culture.  It’s simply the way most of us shop.  (p.33)  

       Notes and takeaways from this chapter:

      • This chapter was an overview of the history of fast fashion.  Surprisingly, the roots go back to the Gap!

      Chapter 2: How America Lost Its Shirts 

      To understand why fashion is so beguiled by overseas production, consider that even after outsourcing almost our entire clothing industry to low-wage countries, labor is still a huge part of the cost of garment production.  According to recent estimates, raw materials account for 25 to 50 percent of the cost of producing an item of clothing, while labor ranges from 20 to 40 percent.  “Fashion is a labor-intense industry, not a technology-intense industry.  You need someone to sit at a sewing machine,” DiPalma says.  Clothing, even when produced in a factory, is really a handmade good broken down into assembly-line steps.  The sewing machine is more a tool than a machine, as it really just facilitates and speeds up manual work.  (p.42)  

      Low wages don’t just affect immigrants and garment workers…Long before the recession began, jobs were becoming increasingly polarized in the United States, with The New York Times reporting in 2010 on a number of economic studies that showed high-paid occupations that demand higher education and advanced skills growing alongside low-wage, entry-level, service or retail jobs.  This trend is intimately related to the loss of manufacturing in the United States.  Skilled middle-income jobs, those once populated mostly by factory workers, are the ones that have disappeared, and they have evaporated even faster since the start of the current recession. (p.56)

       Notes and takeaways from this chapter:

      • To make cheap clothes, you need cheap labor.  These stats are unsettling: “Garment workers in the United States today, although poorly paid by American standards, make more than four times as much as Chinese garment workers, 11 times Dominican garment workers, and 38 times Bangladeshi garment workers.” (p.43)
      • Fun fact: Nike has never made their shoes in the United States; they have always been made in Japan and Taiwan.
      • Another fun fact: Levi’s was one of the last major garment manufacturers to give in and source from overseas, closing its last last factory in 2004.

      No.230: Artisan Soaps Around the United States

      This post contains affiliate links.

      I admit ahead of time that this is such a random post, but hear me out!  I’ve recently ordered a few soaps online and have since been fascinated with the entire soap-making process.  I definitely don’t have time to learn the skill right now, so I’m happy to support the little businesses who do.

      Here are three reasons why you should try artisan soap:

      1. Bars of soap seem to last much longer than body wash, so your financial commitment is less in the long-run.
      2. You “miss out” on all the junky ingredients that some of the commercial soaps contain.  Yay for healthier living!
      3. You’re supporting a small business and that money helps them pay their mortgage, keep their farm running or put food on their table.

      I live in Virginia, but you probably don’t, so I went on a little rabbit trail and found soap artisans in 31 different states!  If you have a favorite company in a state I missed, please let me know in the comments and I’ll add them to the list.

      ___________________________________

      ALABAMA // Black Sheep Bath Co.
      Specializing in soaps, lotions, bath bombs, scrubs, and Spa Day gift sets

      I love the colorful swirls of these chunky soaps!  Favorite scent I can’t wait to try: Sunrise

      ALASKA // Glacier Valley Soap Company
      Specializing in all natural soaps made with Alaska spring water
      I really respect the mission of this company.  From the website: “Glacier Valley Soap Company STARTS with the goal of being good for what goes down the drain and ultimately ends up in our drinking water sources and the waters from which we collect our seafood – salmon, halibut, shrimp and other goodies. It’s just an added bonus that the soaps are luxurious, a treat to use, and good for your skin too!”

      ARIZONA // Pie Town Soap Co.
      Specializing in fine handmade soap, natural bath & body and aromatherapy
      I’ve never been to Arizona, but I sure would love to try her line of Sedona soaps, made with Sedona Vortex red earth!

      ARKANSAS //  Cadron Creek Soapworks
      Specializing in handmade olive oil castile soap

      CALIFORNIA // Borden Acres
      Specializing in handmade goat’s milk bath products
      I love how all of the soaps are packaged in 100% compostable seed boxes, so you can plant them and grow flowers!  Such a fun touch.

      CONNECTICUT // Herd Supply Co.
      This company makes cold process soap with a twist: their soaps feature milk from East Friesian and Dorset sheep!  “My dad and I hand milk the sheep every year after the lambs are born and use the milk in all of the soap recipes.”

      FLORIDA // Simple Bliss Bath Co.
      Specializing in handcrafted bath & body products
      I love Jamie’s mix of fun, whimsical bars and more useful, utilitarian ones.  She even has one for babies!

      GEORGIA // Normal Soap Company
      Specializing in natural soap and body products, handmade in Athens, GA

      Kevin and Jessica learned to make soap as a date activity and haven’t looked back since!  Favorite scent I can’t wait to try: Georgia Peach

      HAWAII // Kopa Kauai
      Specializing in tropically-inspired soaps handmade on Kauai
      Oh my goodness, these soaps are awesome.  She has scents that just scream Hawaii – lychee, mango, papaya passion and more!  I want to order them all.

      IDAHO // Ego Soap Company
      Specializing in natural and handcrafted men’s grooming products
      This soap shop is just for the guys.  I appreciate the care they’ve taken with their products, right down to the packaging.  Adding “Fortitude” to my list for my boys and husband.

      IOWA // Thumbprint Soap
      This shop’s name comes “from the notion that no two bars of soap are exactly the same, just like snowflakes or fingerprints.”  Love that!  Favorite scent I can’t wait to try: Spanish Fly

      KENTUCKY // Rock Bottom Soap Co.
      Specializing in handmade goat milk soap & natural products
      Amy has been able to put her chemistry minor to work as she tinkers with different scents and soap-making techniques.  Together with her hard-working goats, they create an incredible product.  I love the packaging too!

      LOUISIANA // Sweet Olive Soapworks
      Soapmaking runs in Emily’s family – she learned the tricks of the trade from her grandmother!  Bonus: her packaging is incredible and would make great gifts.

      MAINE // Rocky Top Soap Shop
      Specializing in unscented soaps and balms

      According to Tony, “I use a variety of plant based oils and butters in my formulations. No pre made bases and absolutely no animal fats are used. All the additives are naturally derived and most are edible. The colorants are teas, coffee, botanicals, purees, juices and clays. The exfoliants include things like corn meal and poppy seeds.  There are no fillers, chemicals or preservatives added to any of the soaps. This makes the ingredients lists read more like a recipe for dinner than a chemical concoction you shouldn’t put on your skin.”  Love that!

      MICHIGAN // Little Flower Soap Co.
      Specializing in handmade, natural soap, spa gift sets & shower favors
      We used to carry Holly’s soaps in our Big White Farmhouse shop and they were always a hit!  Her packaging is beautiful.

      MISSOURI // Saco Valley Farm
      Specializing in luxury handmade goat milk soaps, lotion bars & more
      Melissa has a huge selection of scents in her shop – over 30!  Favorite scent I can’t wait to try: Oatmeal Milk & Honey

      MONTANA // b.simply
      Specializing in handcrafted bath and body products
      Amber set out to create a soap that was “super hydrating and perfect for Montana’s dry climate.”  I love the simplicity of her soaps and can’t wait to try the White Tea & Ginger scent.

      NEBRASKA // Wildwood Goat Milk Soap
      Specializing in goat milk soap and Nebraska handcrafted products
      The owners of this shop are a mother-daughter team who were inspired by their family’s generational farm wives.  The goat’s milk that they use for their soaps come from their own Nigerian Dwarf Dairy goats from their farm!  How cool is that?

      NEW HAMPSHIRE // Maple Bee Products
      Specializing in cold processed soaps and more
      Maple Bee’s soaps are so colorful!  Tons of combinations and cute designs, like this Strawberry Milkshake.  Wouldn’t they make great gifts?

      NEW YORK // Gilded Olive Apothecary
      Valerie says, “I fell in love with The Great Gatsby in Mr. DeCarlo’s eighth grade english class. I’ve held a place in my heart for Art Deco and the beautiful styles of the 1920’s ever since.”  These soaps are perfect for someone who loves that literary classic!

      NORTH CAROLINA // Clean Line Soap Company
      Specializing in goat milk soap, buttery bath bombs & more
      I’ve ordered from Clean Line Soap before and had a really great experience.  I can’t wait to try the Honeysuckle scent next.

      NORTH DAKOTA // Kindak Co.
      Specializing in homemade cold process soap & soy wax melts
      With names like Warm Flannel, Prairie Rose, and Off the Grid, these soaps will surely make you feel part of North Dakota too.  Favorite scent I can’t wait to try: Lake Nights

      OHIO // Blip and Branch
      The owners of Blip And Branch are a husband and wife team!  So many great options; I love this heart-shaped one.

      OREGON // 5R Farm Soap
      Specializing in natural soaps, lotions, and more!
      The story behind the name: “We named the property 5R Farm, after the five chickens that inspired us to make our dream of moving to the country a reality. It wasn’t long before we built a large chicken coop and expanded our chicken flock to 30 chickens, including several roosters. We added bees to the farm in 2013 and added turkeys in 2015. When I’m not making soap, lotion, or candles you can usually find me tending to our growing menagerie, up in the garden, or canning in the kitchen.”

      PENNSYLVANIA // Shady Nook Bee Farms
      Jill sources all of her wax and honey from her own hives!  Favorite scent I’m excited to try: French Green Clay

      RHODE ISLAND // The Blue Sister
      Specializing in vegan artisan soaps and slathers
      “From sandy beaches to lush green campgrounds, from sweet fruit orchards to aromatic gardens, all soaps are artistically designed with both aesthetics and the senses in mind.”  This is exactly the vibe I felt as I scrolled through The Blue Sister’s soaps!

      SOUTH CAROLINA // Old Whaling Company
      Specializing in handmade bar soaps, bath bombs, body butter and scrubs
      I LOVE the packaging of this soap company.  Favorite scent I’m excited to try: Coastal Calm

      TENNESSEE // Free Reign Farm
      Specializing in natural goat milk soap, salves, and wood wick candles
      I loved the story behind this company: “Foster care is all about healing and when a new mom to three foster babies went looking for natural solutions to their skin and allergy problems, she stumbled upon products that changed everything…We are still involved in foster care and our company raises awareness for kids in foster care. We also donate to a foster care support agency and a humanitarian agency supporting kids in need. Partner with us in offering hope to those who need it most!”

      TEXAS // Foster Gardens Bath Co.
      Specializing in handcrafted soap & artisan skincare
      The colors of these soaps are just gorgeous!  Favorite scent I can’t wait to try: Garden Mint

      VIRGINIA // Wildwood Williamsburg
      “Wildwood Farm is a local small-scale farm started by a young married couple, James & Paige Ewell. Wildwood produces handcrafted goat milk soaps made with its raw goat milk, essential oils, herbs from the Wildwood Farm garden, and beeswax from Wildwood bees.” So cool!

      WASHINGTON // Sweet River Soap Co.
      Specializing in handcrafted goats milk soaps and apothecary
      Soaps made with goat milk are so luxurious.  Favorite scent I can’t wait to try: Black Raspberry Vanilla

       

      No.148: Tales of a Thrift Store Convert

      I started and never finished this post in my draft folder months ago, so I’m finally hitting publish!

      Dear Friend,

      Can I tell you a secret?  I used to be afraid of the thrift store.  I used to think they were a little icky, a smelly building that certainly must be full of yellow armpit stained shirts and tacky tchotchkes.

      But then came 2018 and my heart check on waste and cheap fashion.  My mom is always finding treasures at the thrift store and curiosity finally got the best of me.  I was ready for her to teach me her ways.

      Just a few trips in and I’m a believer!  I’m sure there are places out there that fit my naive description above, but I really think they must be the exception, not the rule.  Anyway, I wish I could have you over for coffee so I could proudly share my latest finds, but maybe a little virtual sharing will do in the meantime?  Check out what I found:

      In my very new experience of thrift store shopping, the way clothing is handled makes or breaks a shopping trip.  My mom and I visited one store that is amazing in its organization!  I practically found an entire spring wardrobe for just a few dollars a piece!  J.Crew, Gap, even a Merona sweater with tags.

      Years ago, I bought a set of dishes at Target.  We’ve slowly lost pieces due to chips and falls and I was at a point where I was debating whether to buy more of the same or invest in something different.  Lo and behold, I found my exact dishes at Goodwill.  Seven dinner plates, six salad plates and a handful of bowls for just $2 a piece!  In one swoop, my dishes were replenished for half the price.  My best find to date.

      Books!  I could browse the books all day long.  Most books are only $1, but my favorite is when you discover at the register that some are half off.

      I try to keep focused, but some things are just too great to pass up!  I loved these sweet vintage candle-holders and can’t wait to use them this Christmas.

      Are you a seasoned thrifter?  Tell me your best tips and tricks.  Have you recently been to Goodwill?  I’d love to hear all about your finds!

      xo,
      Ashley

      A QUICK REVIEW OF THREDUP’S GOODY BOX PROGRAM

      Okay, so maybe thrift stores aren’t your thing or the idea of browsing with little kids in tow gives you hives.  (No judgement here!)  Another option is ThredUp, a virtual consignment store with amazing secondhand deals.  I recently tried out their new Goody Box program and while it wasn’t a perfect fit (too many pieces suitable for fall when I was looking for spring/summer), I really enjoyed trying out brands I’ve never worn before.  This box had everything from Zara to J.Crew to Madewell to Old Navy.  The price points ranged from $6 (for a Merona skirt) to upwards of $50 (for a Marc Jacobs skirt).  I ended up keeping three out of the fifteen pieces and just shipped the rest back.  A fun alternative to boxes like StitchFix.  Use my referral link HERE to get $10 off your first order!

      No.120: New Habits, Little by Little: A Seven Changes Update

      This post contains affiliate links.

      It’s been almost exactly two months since I talked about seven areas in my life that needed change.  Ever so slowly, I’ve been chipping away and while this sort of thing is definitely a marathon not a sprint, I’m pleased with the tiny progress I’ve made so far.  Below are a few steps I’ve taken and three new goals for each.  My motto: An intentional life happens little by little.  Linking up with Kelly’s Quick Takes again!


      1 // TIME

      The more I think about this, the more “time” is really just shorthand for “self-care.”  My perfectionist tendencies had me believe that if I couldn’t have it exactly how I envisioned it, it wasn’t worth starting at all.  And that’s so not true.  Here’s what I’ve been working on:
      • I read Finish: Give Yourself the Gift of Done and it really helped me identify my problem areas and to get my perfectionism in check.  I have carried a lot of his ideas with me since – sign of a good book!
      • Starting small, I asked myself, “What makes you feel alive?”  And for me, that’s running.  I started getting up earlier, going as far as 30 minutes will take me, and I feel like a completely new person.
      • GOALS
        1. Create a routine for prayer & Bible study.
        2. Put a monthly “day out” on the calendar and stick with it.
        3. Sign up for a race in the fall.

      2 // WASTE

      In my research, I stumbled on an entire “zero waste” community and woo, are they both inspiring and intimidating!  “Less waste” seems like a more reasonable goal for me right now.  Here’s what I’ve been working on:
      • Our plastic containers were looking pretty bad (and we were missing a third of the lids – how??) so I invested in some glass ones.  I love them!  They don’t stain, clean easily and look super cute stacked in the fridge.  
      • I joined a local group on Trash Nothing, a freecycling website.  You can offer or request items and everything is 100% free.  For example, right now, people are offering a charcoal grill, sports equipment, even a desk and dresser!  I check in frequently just to see what’s available.
      • I’ve been saving vegetable scraps to make bone broth.  Onion skins, celery leaves, carrot peels, and leftover fresh herbs!  I keep them all in a big bag in the freezer and when the bag is full, I plan a whole chicken for dinner, which will then be used to make broth.  There is something so satisfying about making something delicious from scraps.  My grandmother would be proud.   
      • Flexible meal planning has been helpful in the waste department as well.  When I feel like we have too much in the fridge, I bump my planned dinner to the next day and have a “Refrigerator Clean-out Night” to use up all the half-eaten odds and ends.   
      • GOALS
        1. Research composting.
        2. Get rid of old couch on Trash Nothing.
        3. Finish reading An Everlasting Meal.

      3 // SLOW FASHION 

      When everyone is ruthlessly paring down their wardrobes into capsules, I’m at the opposite end of the spectrum: I have very little!  This is mostly due to my constantly fluctuating midsection – being pregnant and postpartum for over a decade hasn’t inspired me to shop beyond the bare essentials.  But I’m ready to work on this and I want to do it the right way.  Here’s what I’ve been working on:
      • My mom and I have started thrifting together and it has opened my eyes to an entire new world.  The quality of the clothes varies, but most are in amazing shape – some were even brand new with tags!  
      • I tried Thred Up‘s new Goody Box and just signed up for a second “Spring Essentials” one.  
      • GOALS
        1. Read Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion.
        2. Find a new ethical company to support.
        3. Start setting aside a little money to invest in a quality piece of clothing.

      4 // EDUCATION

      Education is on my mind a lot, but I really haven’t had time to think beyond the daily grind.  Summer break seems like a good time to work on this area before we begin again in the fall. 
      • GOALS
        1. Read Know and Tell.
        2. Brainstorm new ways for creative narration for school in the fall.
        3. Start writing in my commonplace book again. 

      5 // NATURE & BEING OUTDOORS

      We haven’t quite shaken our “indoor people” habits, but we’re making progress!  The past few weeks have been tricky with allergy-ridden children and never-ending rain, but I’m hopeful we’ll get back to our routine soon.  Here’s what I’ve been working on: 
      • We started the 1000 Hours Outside challenge in March.  At this writing, we’re at 63 hours.  The pollen really put a damper on our fun – one of my kids in particular is especially allergic with swollen, itchy eyes.
      • I’ve tried to be intentional about seeking out nature, photographing plants that catch my eye and researching their names.  
      • The birds hatching on our front porch fan have been fascinating to watch too.  We joined Nest Watch and are helping scientists with our data.  
      • GOALS
        1. Read How To Raise a Wild Child.
        2. Determine what the trees in our backyard are.
        3. Plant new shrubs in our front flower beds.  Maybe ones that attract birds and butterflies?

      6 // LESS SCREENS

      I’ve found that this change is a natural consequence to #5: more time outdoors equals less need for screens.  Lately though, as we’ve been stuck inside with days and days of rain, I’ve found the opposite to be true.  So much begging for a show!  Here’s a few other things we’ve been working on:
      • Mark and I don’t watch television on weekdays.  This sort-of evolved naturally because we were both reading books we couldn’t put down.  Now in hindsight, we didn’t realize how many hours of our life we wasted scrolling through Netflix trying to find something to watch!  I’m reading more than I ever have before simply because of this small change.  
      • Mark downgraded to a “dumb” phone.  This seems like a social experiment (can he do it?  and for how long?), but he says that he’s seeing a lot of benefits already.
      • I’m trying to only scroll when I’m alone instead of in front of my kids – I am rarely alone, hah, so this helps with time management for me as well.
      • GOALS
        1. Make a plan for screen use during the summer and stick to it.
        2. Read Hands Free Mama.

      7 // PARENTING

      I’m in the thick of parenting, but I haven’t really touched the intentional part of this change yet.  Putting this one on my summer to-do list.
      • GOALS
        1. Complete the gallery wall of family photos in the living room.
        2. Read Siblings Without Rivalry.
        3. Prioritize one-on-one time with each child.

      Less Materialism, More Intentional Living

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